The aim of this phenomenological study was to determine the experiences and views of elementary school teachers about mobbing. To address this issue, the researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 female and 19 male elementary school teachers working in public elementary schools. Four themes emerged during the analysis: reasons for…

This dissertation explores the effectiveness of both narrative therapy and art therapy practices incorporated into a participatory action research (PAR) project to foster alternate stories of hope in addressing bullying and other aggressive actions. Results indicate that narrative therapy, when incorporated into a PAR design, can assist with the…

As schools redefine their role to include the social-emotional needs of students, it is imperative that they simultaneously reflect on the adults in the building and the way that they embody and model the traits they are hoping to instill in students. This exploratory qualitative study looks specifically at the way that school leaders perceive and…

The present study examined the effectiveness of a curriculum-embedded, asynchronously delivered gratitude intervention with a first-year college student sample. Hypotheses included that the gratitude intervention would lead to decreased levels of depression, anxiety, and stress and increased feelings of gratitude and psychological…

Because the dominant narrative in the media around teachers is fixated on the burnout and unhappiness they are experiencing, this dissertation study explored the joy female Critical Teachers of Color experienced while teaching during the COVID-19 global pandemic. In this qualitative study, I employed both autoethnography and portraitures as a way…

Adult learners represent a growing population of students seeking postsecondary education. This qualitative investigation sought to understand the lived experience of the adult learner during matriculation. Through the use of semi-structured questions, 15 newly enrolled adult learners participated in a private, one-on-one interview to describe…

This mixed methods case study examined how a student success program at a private four-year college in the eastern region of the United States may enhance student success and students' associated feelings of a sense of belonging. Results and findings add to the overall student success literature and may benefit other institutions in higher…

Despite an increasing understanding of how underlying systems of oppression show up and operate in STEM classrooms, little is known about how Black joy and reauthoring can be utilized in supporting Black youths' navigation of oppressive, anti-Black systems as STEM learners. Partnering with community educators, scholars, and middle and high school…

This study analyzes the reasons for stop out behavior in a first-year composition class. The study was intended to be mixed methods, but the quantitative data, which was to be collected via survey, yielded too low of an n-value to allow for statistical analysis; therefore, case study research, analyzed through a social context framework, was…

This dissertation focuses on the role of tradition and ritual in historically Black education, particularly combating the legacy of antiblackness in school discipline. The study argues for the use of prophetic disruptive rituals that are grounded in meaning, hope, and love. Using Morehouse College as a philosophical case study, the project draws…

The observation and supervision of New Jersey educators stand as a critical professional component to ensure that school staff is provided with timely feedback about their performance and recommendations and support for continual improvement. As a result of the TeachNJ Act (2012), efforts were made to formalize this process across New Jersey's…

Research Findings: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the education system faced unprecedented challenges, including global school closures, the cancellation of face-to-face teaching, and ultimately school step-wise or partial reopening. Childcare providers have faced additional significant stressors from the beginning of the outbreak. The present…

A positive perception situation positively increases the person's worthiness, self-confidence and perspective towards time. The current study determined the relationship between the positive perception and social well-being levels of students during the COVID-19 quarantine period. The study group consisted of 236 students, 110 females and 126…

As a Chinese Canadian environmental educator and musician, I explore how the concepts of the heart-mind and holistic listening from guqin music could be applied to environmental education (EE) as a non-western perspective on the ecological crisis and the problematic separation between humans and nature. The early Chinese concept of the heart-mind…

The current study sought to determine if any meaningful relationship existed between perceived mental, emotional/behavioral, and academic resilience and overall resilience in adolescent American students. The current quantitative study was conducting using convenience sampling though a national school counselors' website. Respondents were asked to…